Axiom: The $55 million ticket to space

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BEAM Staff

June 30, 2018

Amidst a space race that sees tech billionaires worldwide compete for NASA contracts and outer space mining, Axiom, a Houston-based startup has taken another stab at private space travel. The company says that in 2020, it will offer 10-day stays on the International Space Station for $55 million per person.

Included in this price is a 10-day stay in the ISS, a 15-week astronaut training program and transport to and from the space station. Whilst a starting ground, the ultimate goal of the company is to build a private station in space to which it would be able to ferry passengers. According to the company's statement, their private station could be operational in 2022.

At that point, Axiom's space station would, however, still be attached to the ISS until it is eventually deprecated. Currently, the $100 billion orbital outpost is funded up to 2024, its mission, however, could be funded forward. The Axiom station would then detach and stay in space where it would fly freely with its Starck designed interiors.

"This is a dream project for a creator like me with a genuine fascination for aviation and space exploration" Starck said in a statement. "The greatest human intelligence in the world focuses on space research. My vision for the habitation module on Axiom Station is to create a comfortable egg that is inviting, with soft walls and a design perfectly in harmony with the values and movements of the human body in zero gravity."

Despite the eight figure price tag, private space trips to the ISS have already been taken by at least 7 individuals from 2001 to 2009, with payments estimated to be between $20 and $40 million each time. According to Axiom, the company will also work with governments for space missions and research.